Automobile radiator cap



April 3, 1928. F WH-TE 1,665,004

o AUTOMOBILE RAD-IATOR CAP Filed April 11, 1925 fzz/e/fff Patented Apr.3, 1928.

,UNITED STATES PATENTOFFIYCE.

JOHN F. WHITE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WHITE PRODUCTS COMPANY,

` OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

AUTOMOBILE RADIATOR CAP.

Application led April 11, 1925. Serial No. 22,270.

This invention relates to automobile radiator closure caps of the typedesigned for permanent connection to thef'radiator spout and `having ahinged lidk giving access to the Such devices are sold extensively asaccessory equipment designed to supplant the ordinary radiator capfurnished as a part of the standard equipment. One of the requirementsof such a device is susceptibility of attachment to the radiator spoutwithout employment of special tools and without the necessity forreforming or adapting the. radiator spout to it. Having in view thefulfillment of this requirement, a

further object of my invention is the pron vision of such a deviceparticularly qualified to form an effective seal for the radiator spoutand to resist or avoid deterioration of the seal-forming elementsincident to use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a closure of suchtype whici is qualified both to form an extremely tight seal for theradiator spout, and permit Opeliving, when required, with great facilityand without danger of injury to the lingers of the operator.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device having thequalifications above described and the construction of which lendsyitself to embodiment'in graceful design and contour, adapting it tofunction as an embellishment of the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an article of thesort described which may be constructed at a low cost.

VOther andufurther objects of the inventionj will be pointed louthereinafter, indicated inthe appended claims, or obvious to one skilledin the'art upon an understanding of the present disclosure. Forthe'pur'- pose of this application I have elected to show herein certainforms in which the invention may be embodied, but itl is to beunderstood thatthe same are here presented for the purpose ofillustration only and are not to be accorded anyl interpretation havingthe effect of limiting the invention short ofthe mostconiprehensive'scope indicated `in the claims.

Y In the drawing forming a part of this specication,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the device as itzappears inposition on a radiator `spout or nipple,

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on line 2-2 of Fig. l. f VThe art isfamiliarwith Various types of automobile radiator caps p designed to bescrewed on to the radiator spout but so equipped that they cannot bebacked off, the

object being to provide a theftV preventing device for retaining anindicating instrument or ornament as well as ythe closure. Novel anddistinctive features of the present invention reside in the provisionofa device having laterally extending arms whereby the device may beturned so as to set it up on the screw threaded radiator spout, thearms,

ausL

when the device is in position, constituting f decorative features. lheleverage afforded by the arms is utilizedmoreover, in attaining theimportant additional advantage of a very: tight seal between the hingedlid forming the closure for the device and the member which affords theopening for filling the radiator. The mechanical advantage accruing fromthis feature permits the usel ofhard packing, such las a steam packing,

-for closing Athe radiator spout, which packing may be of such qualityand material as to be ableto resist effectively any deteriorat` ing ordisintegrating influences of the steam,

hot Water, and the various chemicals commonly employed in automobileradiators for preventing freezing in cold weather.

With these general observations, the invention will be furtherunderstood by reference in detail to the illustrative embodiment. Let itbe understood that the reference character l0 designates theradiatorspout,-the forml illustrated may be representative of any number ofstandard spouts which are suitably screw threaded, either internally orIn providing the in this bushing is carried a compressible seatingwasher l2, preferably of lead,

adapted to bind upon the top of the radiator spout. The bushing isprovided with a peripheral groove 14 for cooperation with a on thecollar 26.

first instance attached to the radiator spout connecting ring, and itterminates Y'at its upper extremity lin a' sealing seat It also has aradially projecting hinge lug 16to which is., hinged the closurecap 17.The capr affords a seat for the display device 18, and

has an axial aperture 19 for accommodation of the post or stem 18thereof` A, theft .pre-

venting connection, such as the nuts 20 and 2l and the binding washer22, may be pro-v vided for securing the display device tothe cap,thestem`18t also aliordmg means for tainedin place bythe nut 25 andadaptedto cover ythe open end of the bushing and fseat upon the sealingseat l5 thereof. This "gasf ket maybe made of a relatively `hardApacking'material and of such vtexture and composition ,as to resist thehet steam and the vapors from anti-freezing ii'liritures. The gasket"may be made vin twowparts, with the resistant packing material as lthelower, and a packing'ot' more `elastic material, such as `rubber,"aboveit. The thickness of the gasket is such that it will `bind with heavycom# pression upon the seat 15 whenthe cap isgin closedfpositfion, andit is preferable that the gasket be supported by'an overlying portion ofthe cap seas to secure thisheavy compression upon the seat of thebushing. The

compression may beincreased, ofcourse, by

the insertion gasket. f f Below thelower marginof `the cap 17 aI collar26 Iis rotatably mounted on the buslrv of shims or fwashers behind theing 11 bymeans of aspringring27'. This collar is equipped withlaterally` extending handles 28 wherebyit may berotated, said handlesbeing ofisuch extent' as 'to afford substantial'lnfei'agel` On "the sideopposite the hinge` lug `16, the cap is provided "with catch `member 29adaptedV for engagement with AaV cooperating l'catch member 30 carriedThese 4catch members are engageable and disengagea-ble by rotation orthe collar member 26 on the bushing-11, .and

"their form is such that as moved to engag' ing position under leveragefrom i'the arms 28, they willcooperate with eachother Ito exert awedging or can-lining action effective to compress the gasket Mtightlybetween the cap and the top ofthe' bushing.` `The form of thecatchmembers also issuclrthat when they reach their ultimateengagedposition `they have adetent inter-engagement tending to `hold them`against separation. Such separation may be f effec-ted with comparativeease, however, by counterclockwise rotation ofthe collarjthrough theleverage afforded by the handles 28. 1

VIn the operation of `the device,`it is in the bybeing set uptightlythereon to an "extent `sufficient to compress the seating washer12 suliicient to form a hermatic sea-lbe'tween the bushing and the spoutand to position tion of the collar rWhen it is desired to 'open the.eap,tl;1e:catchj members 29 and 30 .are disengaged .by coim-A terclockwiserotation byV the collar 26, per#` mitting Vthe cap to Vbe@swungbackongits hinge.` The cap is closed by a reversaloffthe operation,therein the camming Vaction `oft members 29 and 30 and the lleverage .ofV.time

handles 28 are effectiveyto attaina flli'eavy' as Y compression of lthegasket on the bushingsothat a hermatic seal is formed. It will 4beobserved that there is no rotation ofthe ket upon the sealing seat'while they iare' in engagement. This 'is a. feature fof-advantage inpreserving the integrity ofthe xpacking v material and hence theVtightness of the'sea'l! These are features of particular importance inconnection with condensing'cooling sysl tems, wherein the entiresystem`V` irl-ust `be completely closed in order to `insure satisfactoryoperation. `A great advantage resides also inthe ease Awith which -thedevice may be operated for 1 opening and oliosingt pre-4 sentingafmarked contrast in `thisrespect to many forms which are secured bythumb screws, spring catches andy the like,- "which have to beoperatedjwlith the endsof the fm@ gers and require more 'or less iorceort'heii`` manipulation, and 'Offer great Opportrw for injury tothefingers of the operators.` l .'What I claim is: l t

` 1, A radiator cap cbmprisinga bushing.

for connection to the'radiator nipple", Va .cap hinged" to the `bushingforc'losing thezen'd thereof, acollar rotatable on `the bushing andcooperating catch members v4'on the 'cdllar and cap engagealble byrotation Lof the `collar for holding the cap -closed and limitinorotairelative to the capl in one direction. y l y 2. A radiator cap"comprising a V"bushing screvvthreaded for `attachment 'to the 'radia- Ytor nipple,A a cap hinged on thebushingffor closing its end,V al collarrotatable on ,the bushing and having anoperatinglever, and cooperatingcatch members on thecollar and cap engageable by rotation of the collarfor the collar. Y y 3.` A, radiator cap comprising a bushing, a caphinged thereto, apacking `Inember ca`rried in the cap for sealingoooperationwith the'bushing, a collar rotatablejon` the bush- `holdingthe fcap ,closed and securingthe bushing for rotation in onedireotionjvith f ing and having an operating lever, and a catch membercarried on the collar and en gageable with the cap by rotary movement ofthe Collar to compress the packing member on the bushing.

4. A radiator cap comprising a tubular member, a cap hinged thereto -forclosing the end thereof, a collar member adjustable on the tubularmember and having projecting handles, and members engageable by move- 10In testimony whereof I have hereunto 15 subscribed my name.

JOI-IIN F. WHITE.

